Dampened spring supported bolster bogies



L. GREENBERG DAMPENED SPRING $UPPORTED BOLSTER BOGIES Filed Oct. 28. 1966 July 1, 1969 FIG. 3.

Sheet July 1, 1969 L. GREENBERG 3,452,685

DAMPENEID SPRING SUPPORTED BOLSTER BOGIES Filed Oct. 28, 1966 Sheet 2 of s FIG. 4.

L. GREENBERG DAMPENED SPRING SUPPORTED BOLSTER BOGIES Filed Oct. 28. 1966 July 1, 1969 Sheet 5 FIG. 7-

United States Patent US. Cl. 105-197.1 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A three-piece railway car bogie includes a bolster and a pair of side frames which are movably connected togather through the bolster. To prevent the bogie from developing an out-of-square condition due to longitudinal movement of the side frames, resilient tie members are connected medially of their length to the bolster and connected at their ends to the related side frame. The bolster is maintained centrally in its housings in the side frames and the arrangement permits relative tilting of the side frames in vertical planes about the bolster and the required vertical movement of the bolster relative to the side frames.

This invention relates to those bogies for railway cars which have a bolster and separate side frames movably connected together through the bolster. In this type of bogie, generally known as a three piece bogie, which may be either a spring-plank bogie or a spring-plankless bogie. the bolster is supported on load carrying springs located in the side frames. The car is mounted on a centre plate located on the bolster and devices may be incorporated to apply frictional or other snubbing resistance to vertical movement of the bolster relative to the side frames.

Three piece bogies are prone to develop in operation a condition known as out-of-square resulting from relative longitudinal movement of the side frames.

It has been common practice to provide minimum working clearances between the bolster and the side frames in endeavours to limit the amount a bogie can get out-of square, but the necessary clearances still permit a misalignment between the side frames of up to 2 /2 to 3 inches which is sufiicient to create a dangerous operating condition. The clearances of course increase with wear between the bolster and the side frames so having a decreasing effect against the forces causing out-of-square. In any case small clearances can lead to jamming between the bolster and side frames causing bad riding of the bogie due to interference with the action of load carrying springs.

Where some forms of wedge snubbing devices are incorporated in the bogie they create a small resistance to relative longitudinal movement of the side frames. However, in service such wedges creep out of their designed position and this is further accentuated when the wedges and their mating surfaces, particularly the backs of the wedges become partially worn, thus allowing the wedges to rock and the side frames to move longitudinally relative to one another.

It can also be shown that due to hills and valleys on the track, the side frames will accordingly move upwards or downwards and tilt in vertical planes relative to the bolster with considerable force. When this condition happens one or more of the wedges may lose designed load frictional contact with the bolster and permit the bogie to become out-of-square. This could cause jamming of the bolster in the side frames so preventing free tilting of the side frames relative to the bolster and possible derailment of the bogie. This condition could be even more aggravated when running into a curve on the track.

This defect in this type of bogie is well known and various devices have been developed in endeavours to confine such movements to safety limits. However, althrough such known devices have controlled the lateral relative longitudinal movements of the bolster and side frames respectively to some degree they cannot be made to confine such movements within the required limits.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide means to substantially eliminate relative longitudinal movement of the side frames, to maintain the bolster centrally in its housings in the side frames, and permit relative tilting of the side frames in vertical planes about the bolster whilst permitting the required vertical movement of the bolster relative to the side frames.

The main advantages of the present invention are that it eliminates such wear in the bogie moving parts, the wheels, the journal bearings and rails as is now caused by the bogie getting out-of-square and that it can be readily adapted to bogie already in service.

As applied to bogie having known wedge snubbing means, the means of this invention will co-act with the wedges to prevent them working out of their designed operative position so that both will function to keep the bogie square and the snubbing action'of the wedges in improved.

As applied to bogies not having snubbing means or having other forms of snubbing means, such as spring package unit snubbers or hydraulic dampers which are completely ineffective to maintain a bogie square, the means of this invention function independently to keep the bogie square.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved wedge snubber for use in combination with the longitudinal movement limiting means of this invention. In service due to relative movements between the bolster and the side frames of a three piece bogie both wear faces of known wedge snubbers are abraded both longitudinally and laterally. With this improved wedge snubber one face of each wedge is subject only to longitudinal abrasion.

According to the first object of this invention there is provided for a three-piece bogie, a relative movement damper in the form of tie members each connected medially of its length to the bolster and connected by its ends to a side frame either directly or through the axle boxes, there being one or more of said tie members connected to each side frame and to the bolster. The tie members are constructed and mounted in a manner to substantially eliminate relative longitudinal movement of the side frames, to maintain the bolster centrally in its housings in the side frames and permit relative tilting movement of the side frames in vertical planes about the bolster whilst permitting the required vertical movement of the bolster relative to the side frames.

In a modification each tie member is made in two parts, each part having one end connected to the bolster and the other end connected to a side frame at opposite side of the bolster.

According to the second object of the invention there is combined with the relative movement damper, wedge snubbers mounted in pockets in the side frames or in the bolster and spring loaded in a known manner, each wedge having on its face which is in contact with the pocket one or more longitudinal serrations or corrugations and the mating face of the pocket is similarly serrated or corrugated in a manner which will permit longitudinal movement of the wedge relative to the mating face of the pocket but substantially no latter movement between the wedge and mating pocket face.

The invention is described with reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a spring-plankless bogie incorporating one form of tie member.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevation of the bogie of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a half plan of the bogie of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional side elevation of one form of wedge snubbing means incorporating the serrated or corrugated wedge and side frame pocket construction consituting such part of the second object of the invention, the tie member being omitted.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary plan of the wedge arrangement of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 illustrates diagrammatically another form of tie member which can be substituted for those shown in FIGURES 1 to 3.

FIGURE 7 illustrates diagrammatically another form of tie member.

FIGURE 8 ilustrates diagrammatically still aonther form of tie member.

FIGURE 9 illustrates diagrammatically a further embodiment wherein the tie member includes coil springs at its ends to permit vertical deflection of the tie member.

Referring to FIGURES 1 to 3, the spring-plankles bogie depicted comprises side frames 1 and 2 and a bolster 3 mounted on springs indicated at 4 in the side frames. The side frames 1 and 2 incorporate axle box assemblies 5 by which the bogie is mounted on wheels 6 and inner or outer or both forms of brakes 7. The bolster incorporates a centre plate 8 on which a car is mounted. Snubbing devices are not shown in these figures.

One form of the tie member of this invention is shown in FIGURES 1 to 3. Each tie member comprises a bar 9 made of spring steel having the end parts 10 turned downwardly and inwardly and terminating in end flanges 11. Reinforcing bars 12 and 13 are placed above and below the bar 9. One such tie member is bolted to each end of the bolster 3 outside each side frame 1 and 2 by bolts 14. The end flanges 11 are made to be sprung into engagement with and bolted to brackets 15 fixed to the side frames 1 and 2 between and adjacent the upper ends of the axle box assemblies 5. The engagement of the flanges 11 with the brackets 15 induces a stress in the tie bar 9.

A suitable tie member for a bogie having an axle centre spacing of 66" would be one made of spring steel having a width of 5", a thickness of A and an overall length of 60".

It will be seen that the tie members 9 provide a positive bias against longitudinal relative movements of the side frames. They will also tend to minimise any tendency of the bolster to jam as a result of the bolster locating lugs contacting the side frames as the bolster moves laterally. The tie members also centralise the bolster in its housings in the side frames thus permitting required movements between the side frames and the bolster and the effective operation of snubbing means.

By locating the tie members so that their connection to the bolster is on substantially the same horizontal plane as the bolster centre plate 8 the bolster is biased against rolling on the bolster load carrying springs 4 which can result from longitudinal forces, for example braking forces, applied thereto.

In three-piece bogies as at present constructed, that is without the tie members of this invention, lateral forces acting between the bolster and the side frames apply a rocking force through the side frames to the tops of the axle boxes. This is due to the fact that under normal conditions of lateral load which do not result in contact between the bolster lugs and the side frames, the force is transmitted from the bolster to the side frames, partly through the bolster snubbing means and partly at the bottom of the load carrying springs. This force creates a movement tending to rock the side frames. This results in accelerating wear on the faces of snubbing wedges and the pockets of the side frames in contact therewith as well as on the axle boxes. The arrangement of the tie members of this invention reduce the tendency of the side frames to rock laterally.

It is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the construction of tie members as described with reference to FIGURES 1 to 3 or to the manner of mounting them on the bolster and on the side frames. For example the tie members shown in FIGURES 1 to 3 can be mounted on either the inner or the outer sides of the side frames, on either side of the axle boxes, or in pairs on both sides of the side frames, or to the side frames through the axle boxes. Alternatively the tie members can be mounted in or above or below the side frames.

Once the effectiveness of the tie members of this invention is appreciated many variations of the form of tie members and the manner of mounting them on the bolster and side frames will be apparent to those skilled in the art. FIGURES 6 to 9 illustrate a few of such varaitions.

FIGURE 6 is a straight spring steel tie member bar 9a. One such bar is bolted to each end of the bolster 3 and each bar is connected to the brackets 15 on the side frames 1 and 2 through resilient pads 16.

FIGURE 7 shows a tie member 912 which is substantially the same as that shown in FIGURES 1 to 3. The difference being the end parts 10b are formed as coil springs 17.

FIGURE 8 shows a tie member made in two spring steel parts 18-19. Each end of each part 18-19 is coiled into one or more convolutions as indicated at 20 and these ends are supported in shackle members 21 on the bolster and side frame brackets respectively. It would be convenient to adopt this construction where greater freedom for vertical oscillating movement of the bolster than that provided by the previously described tie members is required.

FIGURE 9 shows a straight spring steel tie member bar 9c which is bolted to the bolster 3 as in FIGURES 1 to 3. The end parts 2 are slidably mounted in and project through brackets 23 on the side frames. Coil springs 24 mounted on the end parts 22 permit vertical deflection of the bar 90.

It will be seen that the tie members substantially eliminate relative longitudinal movement of the side frames, maintain the bolster centrally in its housings in the side frames and permit tilting movement of the side frames and as a result of such control enable wedge snubbing means to function more efficiently than hitherto. The amount of control to be applied by the tie members can be predetermined by selecting a suitable form of tie member and the mounting means therefor. These could vary according to the condition of the track on which the bogie is to be used and the loading to be applied thereto. Single or multiple leaf spring tie members can be used. Likewise the mounting means can include links and/or blocks or bushes of an elastomeric material.

Referring to FIGURES 4 and 5 the snubbing wedges 25 are partly accommodated in pockets 26 in the side frames 1 and 2 on each side of the bolster 3. Each wedge has one face 27 in engagement with a wall 28 of the side frame pocket 26 and one face 29 in engagement with a wear plate 30 on the adjacent wall of the bolster 3. The wedge is pressed into this engagement by a spring 31. The face 27 of the wedge and the wall 28 of the side frame pocket have complementary serrations or corrugations 32-33 which permit longitudinal movement of the wedges 25 relative to the mating faces of the pockets 26 but substantially no lateral movement between the wedges and the mating pocket faces.

The serrations or corrugations 32-33 provide a substantially large wearing surface on the respective parts which in the construction illustrated is the most critical wearing area, and at the same time assure that the wedge is maintained in lateral alignment with the side frame. This materially assists in maintaining the bolster and side frames in their required square formation. When this wedge construction is used in combination with the tie members forming the first object of the invention the bogie so equipped could be used safely at higher speeds than is now permitted.

It will be understood that when the pockets for the wedges are formed in the bolster the serrations or corrugations will be formed in the Working faces thereof and the faces of the wedges in contact therewith.

It will also be understood that although several serrations or corrugations have been illustrated a single serration or corrugation with a mating ridge or groove can be used.

I claim:

1. A three-piece railway car bogie comprising a pair of longitudinal side frames; bolster supporting springs mounted on each side frame; a transverse bolster extending from one side frame to the other and sitting on the springs on each side frame; at least one tie member associated with each side frame fixed medially of its length to the bolster and fixed at each end to its associated side frame; each said tie member being of substantially rectangular cross-section and being mounted on the bogie so that the breadth axis and length axis of the tie member lie in a substantially horizontal plane when the bogie is in service; each said tie member being straight throughout the majority of its length and having at least at one of its ends a configuration permitting the distance between the point of fixing of the tie member to the bolster and the point of fixing of said one end to the side frame to vary when the bolster moves vertically on the application of a load from the position adopted when not under load; the tie members being so dimensioned as to serve to substantially eliminate relative longitudinal movement of the side frames, and at the same time to exercise a positive restraint on movements of the bolster, permit relative tilting of the side frames in vertical planes about the bolster and the required vertical movement of the bolster relative to the side frames.

2. The railway car bogie claimed in claim 1, wherein said configuration comprises a portion turned back in a curve so as to lie opposite the straight portion of said tie member and terminates in an end lug fixed to the associated side frames.

3. The railway car bogie claimed in claim 1, wherein said configuration comprises at least one convolution and terminates in a position fixed to the associated side frame.

4. A railway car bogie comprising a pair of longitudinal side frames; bolster supporting springs mounted on each side frame; a transverse bolster extending from one side frame to the other end sitting on the springs on each side frame; at least two tie members associated with each side frame both tie members being fixed at one end to the bolster and extending in opposite directions and fixed at their other ends to the associated side frame; each said tie member being straight throughout the majorty of its length and having at each of its ends a configuration permitting the distance between the point of fixing of the tie members to the bolster and the point of fixing of the respective ends to the side frame to vary when the bolster moves vertically on the application of a load from a mean position adopted when not under load; the tie members being so dimensioned as to serve to substantially eliminate relative longitudinal movement of the side frames and at the same time to exercise a positive restraint on movements of the bolster and permit relative tilting of the side frames in vertical movement of the bolster relative to the side frames.

5. Railway car bogie as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said side frames include a pocket, spring loaded wedge snubbers mounted in said pockets, each wedge snubber having on its face which is in contact with the pocket one or more longitudinal serrations or corrugations, the mating face of the pocket being correspondingly serrated or corrugated in a manner which will permit longitudinal movement of the wedge relative to the mating face of the pocket but substantially no lateral movement between the wedge and the mating pocket face.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6,276 4/1849 Hyde 26743 384,317 6/1888 Hubbard 197 XR 1,550,307 8/1925 Elliott 105197 .1 XR 2,194,447 3/1940 Delkers 10'5-207 XR 2,740,360 4/1956 Janeway 105200 2,837,035 6/1958 Bleibtreu 105-197.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,180,474 12/1958 France.

ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner.

H. BELTRAN, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

